Convertible high chair



June 23, 1970 Filed June 14, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.1

June 23, 1970 NADEQR 3,516,709

CONVERTIBLE HIGH CHAIR 2 She'et SSheet 2 Filed June l i. 196

United States Patent O 3,516,709 CONVERTIBLE HIGH CHAIR Donald J. Nader,3443 W. 98 St.,

Cleveland, Ohio 44102 Filed June 14, 1968, Ser. No. 737,075 Int. Cl.A47c 13/00 US. Cl. 297-153 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Acombined luggage case and a collapsible babys chair that is operative asa high chair having a storage compartment therein for the storage of thetray when used as a booster chair. The chair has strap means whichsecures the chair to a conventional chair as well as to an automobileseat to operate as a babys safety car seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an infants chairand more particularly to a new and improved collapsible combinationchilds chair that is adapted to be used as a high chair, booster chairor as a childs automobile safety seat.

Ordinarily, childs chairs are special purpose chairs useable for asingle function and those available for multiple purpose use are bulky,difiicult tomanufacture and are not coordinated for the most desirableuses. In the instant invention, a childs high chair adds versatility byits use as a booster chair while additionally useful as a childs carseat with greater safety than heretofore available.

' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with amultifunction childs chair that may be folded into a compact boxlikestructure to resemble a piece of luggage, wherein such chair isadaptable as a high chair, a booster chair and a childs'automobilesafety seat.

An objectof this invention resides in thefact that the childs chair isuseable as a highchair with provision for immediate storage andaccessibility of the tray to permit quick conversion to a booster chair.

In addition, a further object of 'this invention is to provide amultipurpose childs chair that is useable "as a childs automobile seatwhich attaches easily and securely to an automobile seat assuringmaximum protection in either a folding type seat as bucket seats or ofthe type found in sedans. i

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective viewof the multipurpose.

folding high chair constructed in accordance with the principles of thisinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the chair partially unfolded from itscompact condition.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the chair partially unfoldedsimilar to that shown in FIG. 2 but with the back rest panel raised.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the detent mechanism on the backrest panel taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, there is shown a basehaving laterally spaced upwardly extending side members 11 and 12 joinedat their one end by a cross member 13. Suitably secured to the upper endportions of side members 11 and 12 is a seat member 15, which seatmember 15 is parallel to the base 10 and defines with such members 11,12 and 13 a compartment 16 (FIG. 1). Suitably hinged to the base 10 is afront panel member 17, which 3,516,70'9 Patented June 23, 1970 hingesoperate to limit the angular inclination of such member 17 relative tothe base 10 to facilitate the functional use of such panel member 17 asa leg rest. The forward portion of seat member 15 is flush with theforwardly disposed portions of the side members 11 and 12 Whereas therearwardly disposed portion of seat member 15 adjacent to cross member13 provides a clearance space for a purpose to be described.

Suitably hinged to the uppermost end portion of cross member 13 is aback rest panel member 18, with such hinges operating to limit theoutward swinging of such member relative to the seat member 15. Backrest panel member 18 has a rectangular shaped member 19 rotatablyjournaled thereon for movement about a pivot pin 20 (FIGS. 3 and 1).Members 18 and 19 are latched together by a spring pressed detent means21 which permits rotation of member 19 relative to back rest panelmember 18. As seen in FIG. 4, the spring pressed detent means 21 isadapted to register with a recess 22 (or a recess 23 in member 19).Extending laterally outwardly from the respective side portions ofmember 19 and secured thereto are strap members 26 and 27 with suitablebuckling means on the respective end portions. If desired, the bucklingmeans on the end portions may be similar to car safety belts tofacilitate their adjustability for use and release. Member 19 can berotated relative to panel member 18 from the position shown in FIG. 1 tothe position shown in FIG. 3 wherein the straps 18 and 19 are generallyvertical. With the straps in the vertical position the childs chair canbe secured to a sedans automobile seat that requires the straps to goover, around and under the back rest thereof in contradistinction to thetype of auto seat which folds forward as in two door sedans. Inautomobiles having bucket seats or a folding type of back rest wherethere is lateral clearance space between the front two adjacent seats,the straps 26 and composed of elements 30 and 31 on back rest panelmember 18 and front panel member 17, respectively, can be intercoupled,to assure that the assembled members in their folded condition can beeffected to provide ease of handling. With the seat member 15 and backrest panel member 18 as shown in FIG. 1, the childs chair may be placedon a conventional chair and through the use of straps 26 and 27encompassing the back of the chair provides a useful booster chair thatcan be pushed up to the table and used functionally at a convenientheight.

Pivotally mounted on the base 10 is a pair of spaced tubular U-shapedarms 33 and 34. The lower legs of U-shaped arms 33 and 34 are secured tothe base 10 either by detent means or spaced holes which cooperate withpins (not shown) which lock the arms 33 and 34 either in the uprightposition shown in FIG. 1 or the collapsed position as shown in FIGS. 2and 3. With the clearance space provided between seat member 15 andcross member 13, the pivotal movement of arms 33 and 34 facilitates thecollapsing of the chair to its compact storing position as shown in FIG.2. A tray 35 with conventional hardware including guide rails 36cooperates with the upper leg portions of U-shaped arms 33 and 34 tofacilitate the attachment of tray 35 to the chair for its use as a highchair. For storage the tray is received by compartment 16 such that theentire chair can be collapsed and transported as a unit. To function asa high chair, the chair may be placed on a conventional chair or, ifdesired, telescopic legs or legs with screw-in means may be provided toenable the childs chair to function as an independent high chair.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the collapsiblechilds chair is useable as a high chair with the cooperation of the tray35 or as a booster chair or as a childs car safety chair that isfoldable into the form of a suitcase that can be conveniently carried bythe handle 38 that is attached to one of the side members 11.

Various modifications within the scope of the appended claims will occurto those skilled in the art, and it is not intended that thisspecification and the accompanying drawings shall be limiting, thespirit and scope of the invention being set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined luggage case and a collapsible babys chair comprising abase member; a pair of sides and a cross member attached to said basemember and extending vertically upwardly therefrom; a seat membersecured to said sides with a clearance space between said seat memberand said cross member; said seat member cooperative with said sides,said base member, and said cross member to define a storage compartment;a pair of U-shaped arm members having one of their respective legmembers pivotally secured to said base for pivotal movement bet-ween afirst and a second position; a back panel member pivotally secured tosaid cross member for movement between a position parallel to said seatmember and an erect position normal to said seat member; a leg restpanel member pivotally mounted to said base for movement intocooperative relationship to said base, sides and back panel member whensaid back panel member is in said parallel position to define a closedluggage case; latch means on said leg rest panel member and said backpanel to secure said luggage case in closed condition for transporting;a tray member located within said compartment, said arm members in saidfirst position contained closely Within said luggage case, said armmembers in said second position operative to secure said tray member ina position parallel and spaced from said seat member; and strap meanssecured to said back panel member to facilitate securing of said backpanel to a conventional chair or the back rest of an auto seat; saidback panel member including a top member pivotally mounted thereon,detent means mounted on said back panel member operative to selectivelysecure said top member relative to said back panel in several selectedpositions, and said strap means secured to said top member for movementtherewith.

2. A folding high chair for infants comprising a base having a forwardportion and a rearward portion; a pair of side members secured to saidbase; a cross member rigidly secured to said rearward portion of saidbase and to said side members; a planar seat member rigidly secured tosaid side members and cooperative therewith to define an H-shaped memberin vertical cross section; a leg panel member pivotally connected tosaid forward portion of said base; said base, said side members, saidleg panel member and said cross member being cooperable to define abox-like structure with a closed compartment therein; a tray memberadapted to be received by said compartment for storage therein; a backpanel member pivotally secured to said box-like structure for movementbetween an upright position and a closed position; said back panelmember in said closed position cooperable with said box-like structureto define a closed container that has smoothly interfitting edges; apair of tubular U-shaped arm members each having a leg portion pivotallymounted on said box-like structure; said arm members adapted to bepivoted from a collapsed position within said box-like structure to anupright position wherein the intermediate portions of said U-shaped armmembers are normal to said seat member such that said arm members mayreceive said tray providing an eating surface for an infant seated onsaid seat; latching means on said leg panel member cooperable withlatching means on said back panel member to hold the chair in a securecondition when closed; and strap means mounted on said back panel memberfor securing said chair to a conventional chair or to the seat of anautomobile.

3. A folding high chair as set forth in claim 2 wherein a clearancespace is provided between said seat member and said cross member, andsaid tubular arm members extend through said clearance space tofacilitate the pivotal movement thereof.

4. A folding high chair as set forth in claim 2 wherein said back panelmember includes a back rest member rotatably mounted thereon; and saidstrap means is secured to said back rest extending laterally outwardlytherefrom in one position of rotation of said back rest and verticallyoutwardly therefrom in another position of said back rest upon rotationof said back rest relative to said back panel member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 854,154 5/1907 Domsgen et al.297-17 X 1,049,080 12/ 1912 Greene 297-25 6 1,656,352 1/1928 Groll297-152 2,318,475 5/1943 Ellner 297-152 X 2,418,731 4/ 1947 Seitz297-152 2,555,566 6/1951 Bleck 297-152 2,580,935 1/ 1952 Lovelace297-152 2,971,570 2/ 1961 Vanderbush 297-17 JAMES T. McCALL, PrimaryExaminer US. Cl. X.R. 297-183

